My wife, son (8 months), and dog are a few weeks from breaking ground on a whole-home remodel that will essentially double the current footprint.

Wow, I'm impressed that your young son and dog will be breaking ground along with your wife, but you're not involved in the house remodel? ;)

Sorry I couldn't resist. LOL.

Going to read the rest of your post now.

Um I assume the area labeled garage is only the ancillary garage and not the main one?

Your windows sound fine. One thing you might consider is having the windows come down to the countertop on either side of the range, but having the bottom parts frosted for privacy.

As for your other things, let me take them one by one:

Island - open to options, this is still an area being worked, but we expect to have a prep sink, microwave (if not matched with combi-steam oven on wall), trash/recycling, and seating for at least 5. I'm also debating a 15" or 24" induction cooktop on the island - open to thoughts on this, and how it would be utilized and be placed.

With an island that is only 5' wide you only have room for 2 or maybe 3 if it's kids to sit at the island. Each butt needs 24".

I'm also debating a 15" or 24" induction cooktop on the island - open to thoughts on this, and how it would be utilized and be placed.

You absolutely do NOT want any type of cooktop on the island and especially one that is so small. Even induction needs good venting. Are you planning on having two vents?

Appliances - still working to make final selections, but here are the current options:

Range - most likely 36" Wolf (DF364G) or Blue Star (BSP366B), but debating 48" - think it'll be overkill with the induction cooktop and separate oven, but it looks cool...just not worth the extra money. We're committed to gas for the look, but I feel the love of induction here!

I would forget the gas and go with a 36 induction cooktop and separate ovens for several reasons.

1. Do you really want your baby breathing in those gas fumes?

2. When your child is older, then you need to constantly watch your toddler to make sure they stay away from the range, and don't accidentally turn it on or burn themselves.

3. With induction, it's much easier to clean up. Would you rather be spending your time scrubbing grates and stovetops or playing with your baby?

4. Induction is more precise.

5. Since you have a grill outside, it's almost redundant.

6. It will be a heck of a lot safer when you and the kiddo start cooking together.

Range Hood - size clearly depends on the range, but planning to go with VAH Wall Mounted Professional Series (or similar) with duct to ceiling.

I've heard excellent things about the VAH and my sister is quite happy with hers.

Induction Cooktop - open to advice here, but looking for a 15" to 24", and most likely in the island...this may be unnecessary and removed.

See above where I explained you don't have room on your island and why I would go with induction only.

Refrigerator - Thermador Freedom Columns (T30IR800SP and T18IF800SP) or SZ 48" built-in (BI-48SID/S).

Another excellent choice.

Oven/Warming Drawer - leaning toward the Miele Combi-Steam Oven (M6160TC) plumbed in, but still need to check out the options and get hands-on experience. Trying to match with the Miele warming drawer (ESW6680). Note: These aren't shown in the plans, but intent is to put them by the fridge on the side toward the range.

Just make sure you don't put the warming drawer too low down or you'll never use it.

Microwave - Sharp (SMD2470AS) - open to options here.

I love my Sharp MW drawer and this is the one I'm getting for my new house. Realize that every MW drawer is made by Sharp so no reason for paying more for branding.

Dishwasher - Bosch (SHX68T55UC) - may go higher end to get quieter, also need hands-on experience to confirm dishes fit, etc.

Sink / Faucet - Rohl 30" Farmhouse (RC3018WH) and Kraus (KPF-1602-KSD-30)

Prep Sink / Faucet - TBD, open.

All fine. I would also look at the Franke Farmhouse sink. I think I like the look a bit better.

As can be seen in the layout, we have a formal dining room, but that's not used as much today...we'll see how it evolves with the new home. We'll also have a table in the Sunroom to serve as a quasi-breakfast nook/eating area. Down the road, we'll add a patio, as well, with more seating and eating options.

The formal dining room is far from the kitchen and if it's not used, why not turn it into an "away" type of room or a library or study for now. Then if your lifestyles change where you realize you need a more formal dining area you can turn it back into a dining room.

Overall, IF you don't put an induction cooktop on the island, I like the overall plan. As long as you keep the prep sink on the island, I think it's a well thought out plan.

The only change I can see offhand is to move the prep sink a bit over to the fridge so you have more space on the left of the sink for prepping.

Agree with pretty much everything CP said - definitely a no on the induction on island! It doesn't fit. I'm another induction fan so would definitely consider a 36" induction over the gas (but I'm also a function over looks person any day). Otherwise I would consider 30" gas + 15-24" induction NEXT to the gas so you can put one large hood over both. They definitely both would need to be vented, and having both would be lovely. This is probably only an option if you can change the windows at this point though. Of course I *would* change the windows - why put in 2X2 when you could have something bigger? All 5 of my kitchen windows look out onto my neighbor who is 10-12" from my house - the light is still fabulous and you couldn't pry them away from me! You could use frosted windows on the bottom or a sheer curtain if you are worried about seeing the neighbors.

My only other thought was the aisles - if you are potentially having 5 people run around the kitchen you might want them a little bit wider, although that's definitely a trade off with the island size.

Agree overall looks like it will be a wonderful space to cook in!

It sounds like a great project. You must be so excited!

I couldn't help but notice a couple of things you might want to consider.

1.) In order to serve food in your dining room you'll have to walk it through your family room, and entry hall. Think about hauling your Thanksgiving turkey all that way.

2.) Your prep sink abuts your dining area. No one wants to sit behind a sink, and it masterfully bisects the generous prep space of the island so that you have two smal work spaces. You might want to eliminate it.

3.) Completely ignore induction fanatics. Your baby will not be harmed by your choice to use a gas range, nor will you be any less of a parent for cooking on whatever surface you like. I really hope cp was joking. In fact, feel free to ignore any advice you find manipulative, irresponsible, or ignorant. We all mean well; we don't always express ourselves well.

Good luck! Post often with pictures!

No don't get rid of the prep sink! Then you will have a barrier island and have to walk by the range to get to your sink to prep. I would put it over to the side more as CP said so you have a longer stretch of prep space. Lots of people put sinks on islands/penninsulas with seating - I don't see a problem with this.

If you get the chance I would go to a cooking demo where you can see both gas and induction used.

And as to eam's point, my kids grew up with gas. However if induction had been around when they were young, you can bet I'd have switched to induction. However I'm a function over form person when it comes to cooking. I like to make it as easy to cook as possible.

I do know of several folks who have put in both a gas cooktop alongside an induction cooktop. Guess which one they use the most? (It's not the gas.)

And I'm glad you're not getting rid of the prep sink. :)

How are your aisles measured? Cabinet-to-cabinet or counter edge-to-counter edge or to/from whatever sticks out into the aisle the farthest (counter edge/appliance/appliance handle/etc/)? The latter is the correct way to measure aisles. The former is misleading.

Counters average 25.5" deep --> 24" cabinet/box + 1.5" overhang (the overhang covers the doors/drawer fronts and the knobs/pulls to prevent spills from spilling into cabinets or drawers. My overhang is closer to 2" on one side of my kitchen.

An example of an appliance w/handle is the Subzero - it's depth is 26-1/4" + the handle depth. So that aisle should be measured from the refrigerator handle to the counter edge of the island.

IF you're measuring cabinet-to-cabinet, then your aisles are, on average, 3" narrower than you show.

Note that an aisle with a DW should be at least 45" wide to allow the DW door to be open and someone to stand in front of or pass by the open DW.

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Regarding the DR...I have similar concerns about the DR location. If it's in a similar location in your current layout, it's no wonder it's rarely used - it's much too far from the Kitchen! You will not use it - imagine trying to get the children seated and oops, you forgot the milk or something else, now hike back to the Kitchen - you can't keep an eye on the children. If you have something hot and/or heavy to carry to the DR, you will, again, have a hike and you risk someone running into you or across your path b/c it's through the busiest part of the house. And, clearing the table - the distance makes it a bigger chore!

It's too bad you can't change anything, but if you could, I would try to fix it by at least moving the PR to the far left part of the Mudroom and opening up the Kitchen and Mudroom walls so you can at least go directly to the DR from the Kitchen w/o having to go around and into the FR, past the stairs, and through the Foyer.

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I understand where the OP is in the process and it's probably too late for him, but to others reading this - please, please, please, post your plans for comments on the Building A Home Forum for overall house layout review and here, the Kitchens Forum, for a Kitchen review before you finalize your plans. There have been so many people who have come here asking for a review but then telling us that virtually nothing substantial can be changed. It greatly limits what we can do to help!